The Things I’ve Been Up To

by tinareale on December 9, 2011

Morning, my fabulous friends! Boy, do I have lots to fill you in on today. This week has been a busy one and I haven’t had time to blog about any of it…until today. Let’s catch up, shall we? Fun Fact Friday style!

Makenzie had her first school show/program/pageant…whatever you call it…this week.

I wish you could have witnessed all the cute kids singing and dancing to Christmas songs. All the kids…except for my little Makenzie. She came out on stage, plopped her booty down facing backwards, and proceeded to watch all the other kids sing and dance.

Apparently she misunderstood and thought this was a special performance just for her to see front and center. Yet, I’m still so proud.

We had a random dinner outing with friends for pizza last night.

Pizza will forever top the charts of my favorite food. Yes, even over frosting.<– I promise I’m a healthy eater!!

Both of our families help facilitate a small group at our church and we’re having a Christmas party for the group on Saturday. We originally planned to get together to finish up a few last errands, but it turned into a family dinner date. I’m not complaining. Pizza + friends + happy kids = best night of the week in my book. Even more so when I catch Peter and B on camera making the same goofy face.

This week has been hard on me mentally.

I mentioned before my slight anxiety over the holiday season and the fact that this time of year has always turned into unhealthy habits and unnecessary weight gain for me in the past. I’m focusing on fitting in exercise how I can and choosing healthy options for regular meals, then enjoying the special moments. It’s worked overall, but this week had an overload of those special holiday celebrations and treats. I have enjoyed them guilt free for the most part, but I won’t lie. It’s messed with my head and I have felt slightly off. It’s the first time in awhile I have struggled with negative self-talk and body image. I know it’s unreasonable and I’m working through it. Just wanted to share that those struggles never completely go away…but at least I know how to handle it better. And handle it, I will. You betcha.

Braedon has dropped his morning nap.

…and picked up a double chin, apparently.

I had to rush to get things done before…now I lost an hour of morning work time. Afternoon naps have never been so vital. Too bad I’ve spent three of them taking my own naps this week instead of getting things done. It’s okay, though. I’ve realized the important stuff doesn’t get left behind…and I’m far happier well-rested.

Lee came over yesterday for an in-person training session with me in my “home gym”.

I had too much fun making her sweat. And no, there’s no way to make that not sound dirty.

We did two circuits that incorporated chest/shoulder/triceps strength, full body functional, and stabilization leg exercises. I wonder how sore she is today? You (and I) will have to visit her blog to find out.

I am running my third marathon tomorrow for which I am not 100% confident in my training so that is playing big mental games with me. I think the holidays are really tough as well – so many to-do lists and expectations. I try to just always keep in my the real reason for the season and not sweat the small stuff.

Sorry you’ve had a rough week, I hope a relaxing weekend will help boost your spirits!

Sorry to hear that you are playing those mental games with yourself as well. This year for me I am at my goal weight for the first time ever and my sister’s wedding is less than 6 weeks away so I am feeling the pressure! I am trying to keep positive self talk in the front of my mind and just take each day as it comes. Yes, I had some lemon sorbet today, but I also did a killer workout so there is balance. I hope that we can both just relax and enjoy the holiday season and focus on all the wonderful parts, rather than those ‘other bits’.
Mackenzie is so cute! You are right to be a proud mama!

i’m glad that you’re working through the mental stuff right now…it’s hard to do that this time of year and stay sane! and i used to do the same thing as M in concerts until i got older…it was more fun to watch the other kids than the audience!

My personal way of pushing past those mental demons is to just keep reminding myself “This is a lifestyle; it’s not about this one cookie.” Or “This is a lifestyle; it’s not about this one run.” Allowing yourself to feel any sort of guilt over excessive sweet treats (for instance) is taking away the time you’re meant to spend truly enjoying the treat. It’s a really difficult balance but I’m trying to not let guilt have any place in my life.

I have a nephew that is almost 5, and I have 2 preschool programs coming up next week I’m going to for Christmas. They’re so much fun to go to!!
I struggle with mental games year round, so this time of year is especially hard for me. I don’t really have any sage wisdom, but I hope you make it through it.

OH! So jealous that Lee got to work out with you! I’d love to work out with BOTH of you (and yes, it sounded dirty but I giggled lol)! I am glad that you are facing the anxiety of holiday treats etc well this year…it IS hard. I know it will be hard for me too, but just making sure we choose smartly, we’ll get there. I know it!

Oh my gosh, Makenzie just sitting there front and center watching the rest of the kids is hysterical! It’s funny b/c we just watched a home video over Thanksgiving of my brother in nursery school completely acting out when everyone else was performing for the Halloween parade. It was so funny and so typical knowing him and his personality now.

Sounds like a good time with Lee! Nothing better than working out with friends. I don’t really freak out over eating this time of year. I stay focused on my health since eating poorly and not working out make me feel like crap. Don’t let the mental part take over. You are so much stronger than that!

Oh yes, I can completely relate to the mental games this time of year. It hasn’t been too tough quite yet, but the next week or two involve several Christmas parties and events that will be full of some amazing treats and goodies. It gives me some anxiety, but I know I just have to practice balance and moderation as well as simply enjoy myself. We can do this!

You know, it’s always helped me to differentiate between the goodies I actually want to eat, and those that other people expect me to eat. Just like you wrote on the post about the spicy movie candy. Sometimes I experience a moment of awkwardness between the person offering a holiday treat when I say ’no thanks’, but it disappears so quickly, and feels so good to have stood up for myself and listened to my own desire.

But if you’re worried that you’re going to just loose all control, and eat everything in sight, it can help to eat treats sloooowly and enjoy each bite. Take a sip of water, listen to the music, focus on conversation, etc. Breathe! But you already know this! Trust yourself.

I couldn’t agree more about the holidays. I’m 5lbs from my post-baby weight goal and am thinking oh geez, here that goes. I am not going to give up though and I’m just enjoying those foods in moderation more than I have in the past.
Good luck!

Makenzie facing backwards is so cute. When my brother was in kindergarten they had two concerts–the first he refused to even get on stage and the second he stood there with his arms crossed and didn’t sing a word. Some kids are just too cute…

I think that acknowledging the fact that this time of year is hard is a good thing. At least you’ve identified the problem and you know that it will be easier in a few weeks. I have a hard time around the holidays too.

aaahh the baby double chin. so cute. bummer about the lost nap time. I hear ya on stressing about holiday eating and wight gain…throw being in a BOOT in there and you may have the feelings I have been having lol! not able to run + lots of holiday treats = stressed out Heather. But i’m doing pretty good despite it all!

Definitely hard this time of year. I always assume I’ll gain a few pounds and am okay with working them off as long as I don’t start a long habit of over indulging. Yesterday was rough since I had two mini-fat kid moments. Tons of guilt. Blah.

She’s adorable. All the little kiddies are adorable! ha. Good luck staying stress-free and healthy through the holidays. That’s a struggle for all of us, so just think, the entire healthy living blog community is your support group!

I am focusing on keeping up my exercise and hitting it hard as well as eating healthy a majority of the time so I can indulge a little in my favorite treats. I can stuck on this time of year too, anxious about eating too many sweets. But I know I can handle it if I slow down, take small bites, and really savor the treats so I am satisfied with less. I have gotten into the habit of eating too quickly lately so I am trying to slow it back down so I eat less.

When I’m struggling with guilt, or feeling like I need to restrict, I just have to stop, take a breather, and remind myself that in that moment, I have the opportunity to dive back in to the lifestyle I USED to live, which was MISERABLE, or I have the opportunity to make the right choice and move on. If I don’t chose to move on, I take the risk of getting back in to that perpetual, negative, never ending, self-feeding cycle: restrict, binge, feel guilty….restrict, binge, feel guilty.. Thinking about that is enough motivation for me to buck it up and move on! Getting stuck in that cycle is the last thing on earth I want to do!

Things sound great with you – minus the stress with the holidays (I understand!) – but things with your new site and business seem to be going so well! I really love the new site and if I were still in GA i’d come train with ya!

The holidays are sweets galore and it is easy to fall head into..I will just start in the New YEar and etc. I just started a job as a teacher and my oh my do we have sweets everywhere for the holiday season. Thanks for posting on staying healthy and making time for exercise! So encouraging.

Oh goodness, Miss M! What a cutie! This morning was our school’s children’s Christmas program, and it was so cute. One of the little boys walked almost off the stage to give his mom a kiss. It was adorable. And the little girl playing Mary picked the baby doll up the wrong way and practically dropped it back into the manger. Oh, children…

Oh my goodness–the picture of M in her Christmas dress and with the huge smile is adorable! What a cutie.

The holidays are such a hard time to maintain balance. It sounds like you are handling it really well. I think just acknowledging the challenge is huge.

For me, being pregnant adds a weird twist this year. It’s almost like I have a built in excuse to overindulge, even though I shouldn’t really and definitely don’t really want to. Whenever I feel like just throwing in the towel and saying “who cares?” I try to fast forward in my mind and think of how I will feel after the fact (after eating extra sweets or whatever). Connecting the feeling to the action helps me. I don’t know if I explained that well, but that’s what helps me.

Yes. Thinking of how I will feel later makes a HUGE impact and helps keep things better balanced. And you better believe I over-indulged quite a bit last year while pregnant. I had the worst cravings EVER with B.

I completely hear you about those negative thoughts not going away – you just learn to deal with them better, to handle them better and more responsbily and maturely and counter them with self-compassion – sometimes it is harder than others though and I understand where you’re coming from! <3 Wishing you all the best – you're beautfiul! I love training people at home – i used to teach yoga classes in my living room (private ones) and it was SO much fun! xyx

Happy Saturday Tina! It looks like you were really looking forward to this one. I know it’s easier said than done, but don’t let the holidays stress you. You have a wonderful husband and 2 adorable kids to enjoy them with. You have a strong and (rockin!) body, it is going to be ok with a few extra treats. Keep doing what you’re doing with healthy meals to balance the treats and it will all be just fine. What you’re feeling is totally normal for any fit girl with endless sugary treats at her disposal so don’t think you are alone, or falling out of control. Have a great weekend hun!

i told lee on her blog….totally jealous! she gets a w/o from tina, and you get to play w/ lee who is just awesome. lee even came to Big White Dress day (good party, bad marriage)…and refused to trouble the staff who TOTALLY had a veggie meal for her b/c she didn’t want to be trouble (i had one myself cause they sounded too yummy!)

My holiday struggles are usually more about seeing so many people than about food, although I guess those kind of go together because of pressure to eat so much. Just trying to focus this year on the people I DO want to see since I now live out of state from all of my family.